Dream 8 Breakdown

Dream Welterweight Grand Prix
Marius Zaromskis vs. Seichi Ikemoto

The Storyline: This bout may be Dream’s equivalent to the Donald Cerrone-Rob McCullough slobberknocker the World Extreme Cagefighting promoted in November -- a scrap in which the promoter hopes for all-out action by booking two fighters with a history of exciting stand-up wars. The 33-year-old Ikemoto (18-14-5) graduated from the Shooto circuit before moving on to Deep and eventually becoming a fringe fighter for Pride Fighting Championships in its penultimate year. Zaromskis (8-2), on the other hand, was poised to become the next shingle fighter for former UK top dog Cage Rage before he ran into his personal kryptonite in “The Ultimate Fighter 9” cast member Che Mills.

The Breakdown: Zaromskis comes into this fight as the favorite. Sporting an impressive record and never having gone the distance, he has struck fear into the hearts of many UK welterweights. He has also been accused of padding his record, and following his second defeat to Mills, critics came out of the woodwork. The quarter-final bout with Ikemoto will serve as a true test of skill for the 28-year-old kickboxer.

* * *

The Prediction: Zaromskis has youth and raw knockout power on his side. Ikemoto will hang tough for a while before eventually succumbing to the Lithuanian’s strikes late in the first or early in the second round.